MotoGP Jerez: Moto3 race preview

Garcia takes the Moto3 momentum onto home turf but can the Spaniard keep his roll going at Jerez, or will the likes of Foggia fight back?

Gaviota Aspar’s Sergio Garcia is making a habit of winning in 2022, and after his perfect final lap push in Portugal to move ahead and stay ahead, the gauntlet has been well and truly thrown down. The GasGas rider is more usually earning his stripes as a baby-faced assassin, leaving his attacks late and serving up the perfect amount of aggression, so defending to the line was a new style of victory for the Spaniard. But if ever a track was tailored for a final corner, Garcia-esque lunge, it’s Jerez – and it’s at home too.

The first candidate looking to hit back will be the rider forced to cede the points lead last time out: Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia. The Italian had a more muted weekend in Portugal, qualifying a little down the order but, this time, not able to put in one of his Sunday miracles. It was a solid finish but not a spectacular one, although the deficit in the standings is only one single point.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jaume Masia, meanwhile, arrives from his first back-to-back podiums since 2020, with the Spaniard having put some bad luck to bed in the last couple of races. An experienced winner, Masia will likely prove a threat again, as will fellow veteran Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) if the Italian can find that missing link from Portugal. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) has also proven his speed in 2022, with another podium for the number 71 seeing him go from strength to strength.

There are plenty more home heroes to look out for too: The second Aspar rider, Izan Guevara, was strong again on the Algarve and only just missed out late on, with the number